Wedding Planning

Past brides, what was your something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue? Brides to be, have you started brainstorming and collecting for your own wedding? This is an English rhyme dated to 1898 and the idea is that a bride would wear this for good luck. Though this is an Old English tradition, it’s something that Americans have adopted and have managed to incorporate into their weddings. As I have learned more about this, I love the novelty of it!

Here’s what each item symbolizes:

Something Old- Continuity with the bride’s family and the past

Something New- Optimism and hope for the bride’s new life ahead

Something Borrowed- The idea of something borrowed (typically from a dear friend or family) is a reminder that the bride can depend on her family and friends in her new chapter.

Something Blue –Blue has been connected to weddings for centuries and it symbolizes love, purity, and fidelity

The sixpence in her shoe…well, for obvious reasons, Americans have dropped this piece.

Now that we know the meaning behind the poem, it’s time to start collecting and brainstorming! I’ve been thinking about this for some time now and wanted to share with you some creative, heartfelt ideas that will make your wedding that much more personable, memorable and well…you know…something to talk about for the rest of your life!

I love how “something old” allows us to connect the past to our present. Here are some of my favorite ideas of something old:

Wrapping a vintage piece around your bouquet (this can be a lace doilie or a handkerchief)

Incorporating an old family recipe card as your wedding favor

Wearing your mom’s jewelry

Having your groom wear his father’s cuff links or watch

Understandably, bride’s dress is the “something new” and this tradition is the easiest part to incorporate. But for those brides who may be borrowing their gowns or wearing their mom’s, here are some ideas:

A new piece of jewelry

A new veil

A fashion accessory like a broach

Typically, the “something borrowed” is a veil or a piece of jewelry, or unless you’re the Duchess Kate Middleton, you can borrow the Queen’s tiara (I just checked…and gentle reminder, you’re not her)…but here are some ideas of what you can borrow…and remember, those close to you want to lend you something for your special day:

I absolutely love the idea of borrowing something from another culture and tastefully making it a part of your wedding…I so love this idea! Who says that Chinese food is only for Chinese people? But this goes the same for the concept of your gown and many other components. It’s your wedding, borrow away.

Borrowing somebody’s car as you leave your reception

The most expected “something blue” is the garter, but there are many other creative ways to tie this in:

Share this:

Like this:

Oh, Signature Cocktails…I love them. Do you like the idea of them? It’s a love potion concoction that is representative of the couple, what’s not to love? A signature cocktail leaves your guests with the memory (or not, depending on how much they’ve had); and your guests will talk about it for some time. It’s also something the newly wed can recreate down the road if they want to take a trip down memory lane. They’re great way to showcase personalities of the couple. For example, Tony is a scotch and whisky kind of a guy while I like whisky, I can appreciate some good tequila and gin paired with citrus.

Your signature cocktail does not necessarily have to be a combination of the couple’s favorite ingredients though…I mean, that can lead to a major hangover in some cases. Right?! It can be something significant to the couple. My friends, Katie and Jason, had this amazing drink they served at their shower and the recipe was inspired by a drink served at their hotel while they were on vacation in Hawai’i. It can also be the first drink the couple had while on their first date. I also love the idea of asking a mixologist friend to write up a recipe in honor of the newlywed.

A signature cocktail is a great way to personalize a wedding or a shower and it’s also a means to keep costs down since it simplifies cocktail options. It’s Wedding Planning Wednesday and I’d like to hear about your take on signature cocktails. Did you have a signature cocktail at your wedding? Do you plan on having one at yours? If so, do you know what it’s going to be? Here are some wonderful cocktail recipe ideas shared by my friends at Wedbites.

Who doesn’t love a spring wedding? Everyone will be looking forward to the great weather and beautiful blooms on your special day, but there’s no reason to stop there! There are so many ways to tie a spring theme to your wedding beyond just your bouquet. I compiled a few of my favorite floral inspired drink recipes for you to try. Looks like this spring will be a gin-lovers dream!

Part 1 – Making the Lavender Simple Syrup
– In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add the water and sugar
– Stir to combine, then bring to a boil – When all of the sugar has dissolved, reduce the heat and…

Share this:

Like this:

One of my favorite things at a wedding or a shower is the bar station or stations. It’s the perfect place where you can get up and go to and meet other guests. It gets people up and moving and they’re just always a lot of fun! You know…that saying, “Eat, Drink and Be Merry!” It’s also a great way to show the personal sides to the bride and groom. For example, if he loves cigars and scotch, a cigar bar may work well. Dessert bars are fun, dramatic and kids just love them! Me, I am much more of a savory person, and hands down…will likely have a Nacho Bar with all types of toppings (guac, every kind of salsa and queso!!!!)! It’s also a great way for guests to drink and/ or sober up. You can have more than one bar station and it’s a ton of fun!

It’s Wedding Planning Wednesday and I’d love to hear about what are some of your favorite bars as a guest? What did you have or will you plan to have at your wedding? There are so many different ideas out there, I’d love to hear from you!

Share this:

Like this:

I am guilty. I have shelves and boxes of the ever versatile/ multi-functional/ repurposed/rustic/ dainty/ simple/ inexpensive mason jar. You name the type, I probably have it.

My name is Sammy and I’m a Mason Jar addict. Seriously, I am.

It seems that they can be found anywhere. At weddings, showers, parties, restaurants, restrooms…they’re in virtually every workspace…and you know what?! As much as I can appreciate them, I can’t contain myself anymore, and I am going to say it. I am over them. They’re overplayed. They’ve had more than their 2 minutes and there are many other creative and stunning ways to contain your flowers and add flare to your centerpieces or wedding décor. It’s Wedding Planning Wednesday, and we’re thinking beyond the mason jar and talking about containers or vases that can be used for your wedding centerpieces or décor.

I especially like vases that are one of a kind, but I can also appreciate something that can be repurposed for use after the wedding. –Something that the bride and groom or their guests can take home and reuse! What did you use at your wedding? Did you have vases? Or if you’re in planning mode, what speaks to you? I’ve always been a fan of old, antique tea tin cans and there is also something very magical about bird cages. Lanterns can also be very rustic and modern, and sometimes, a clean square or circular vase does the trick as they’re simple and the lines are clean! I love things that allow you to layer and give your centerpiece more depth…think lots of little things (vases, frames, trinkets) that make up once centerpiece. Below are my top picks for wedding vases or centerpiece containers. They’d also work for other events like parties or back yard gatherings.

Share this:

Like this:

It’s Wedding Planning Wednesday and I absolutely love how Chef Doug Brown’s Wedbites organizes and simplifies an overwhelming party wedding planning timeline. This timeline is a frazzled bride-to-be’s dream come true. With his permission, I wanted to share this with you in today’s post. Happy Planning!

Do you have any planning advice? Is there any planning you wish you would have done? Let’s hear it!

When you first get engaged, it seems to be proper for you to immediately start planning the wedding. But in my opinion, you’re missing out on an amazing part of your life together if you do that. Why not enjoy your engagement a little bit before you go bonkers and start stressing out? Why not celebrate the fact that you’re going to spend the rest of your lives together, instead of spending all of your time worrying about one day? Not to say that your wedding day isn’t a big day, it’s a huge day! But don’t let it get to you.

I’ve looked at a lot of timelines people suggest for when you get engaged, for when to start looking for a venue, when to order your cake, your invitations, etc. But they all seem to have items on their to-do lists that I just don’t think are necessary…

Share this:

Like this:

The idea of a destination wedding never really crossed my mind. As a matter of fact, I used to think it’s more of an elopement while on a vacation with a handful your loved ones. Until, well…Instagram planted a seed in my head. As my nephew, Chris says, “Blame everything on Instagram or Pinterest!” It’s Wedding Planning Wednesday, and it’s time to talk about location, location, location!

Well, this seed is sprouting and the ideas are brewing. Can we be destined for a destination wedding? My friend Deborah shared that she had a very intimate wedding at one of her favorite wineries; and my very wise friend, Judy, urges to save the money and travel somewhere! The options are endless! What’s #trending right now are open spaces (barns, industrial buildings, historic buildings, camp sites, back yards); and I love this idea! Not only does this give me the flexibility to curate my vendors and personalize as much as I’d like, I quickly realize that this platform will not mesh well with my hands-on and must-do-it myself attitude. In other words, lots of self-imposed stress!

Recently, Tony and I have been thinking about where we’d get married? Our backyard? Somewhere in Los Angeles that speaks to our hearts? Our immediate families are all here in Los Angeles and while most of my extended family is here, most of Tony’s is in Mexico. Most of our friends are in California, but we have friends scattered across America. A destination wedding would make sense. It would be a great opportunity for us to share quality time with our loved ones and share a new experience at destination spot. The options are endless and I’ve been to many beautiful weddings at various locations. Only where do we want ours to be? A beach side wedding? A vineyard somewhere?

We started to think of the logistics, flights, hotels, the idea of working with foreign vendors, and the idea of asking our guests to take time off work for our big day. There are lots of things to consider. Sweet Jesus…what if I forgot my dress at home? Would I be able to let go? Would this really simplify my need to be involved with every detail? Might it be easier and less stressful to keep things closer to home in Los Angeles?

Last night, we started to create a list of pros and cons. I’d love your help — what’s your advice?

Share this:

Like this:

Before I even got engaged, I’d wonder what kind of a bride I would be. Actually, I remember daydreaming about this as young as the age of ten when I was at a relative’s wedding. Elegant, classic, chic, traditional, simple, dramatic, there are so many different styles to choose from, and at any given mood, I can be any of these…it just depends on what day it is! But there is just one big day. Decisions, decisions.

Past brides, what did it for you? With endless styles and options out there, what made you say “yes” to your dress? What did you go with and why? What was your wedding style? How did you finally decide? In the end, my advice to future brides and myself is to be true to my personal style (and curves for that matter). I’d love to hear from you and get our advice. How did you go from Dress Stress to saying, “Yes!” ?